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FORT PIERCE — The grand jury report in the Demarcus Semer shooting heightens the need for the city to join in a federal police review and training program, city officials said Thursday.

“Yes, absolutely we still want to join in,” said city spokeswoman Shyanne Helms.

The grand jury’s report, released Tuesday after it cleared the two Fort Pierce officers involved of any criminal wrongdoing, strongly recommends increased training of police and review of such things as how traffic stops are handled.

Prior to the April 23 fatal shooting of Semer during a traffic stop, Police Chief Diane Hobley-Burney heard of the voluntary federal program and invited the Department of Justice to consider bringing it to Fort Pierce, said police spokesman Ed Cunningham.

Department of Justice officials visited the city in June. Since then, the federal agency has been looking into what it might do to help the city and its police, said spokeswoman Najla Haywood.

Federal officials "are aware of the grand jury findings,” Haywood said. She couldn’t say if the jury's recommendations would help federal officials in making their decision, or when that decision would be made.

If the Fort Pierce Police Department is selected to take part in the Collaborative Reform Initiative, representatives from DOJ will assess the operational efficiency of the department and identify areas of improvement. Options could range from a full scale multi-year program to less involved technical assistance.

There would be an independent review of the city's police training and procedures, after which experts would advise the law enforcement agency on improving its operations and policies.

"If the city is selected, Fort Pierce is committed to address their recommendations and undertake reform efforts,” Helms said.

More than 30 communities, from Las Vegas to North Charleston, South Carolina, have been part of the program since it started in 2010.

According to the grand jury report in the Semer case, Semer resisted police at a traffic stop and the situation escalated, leading to gunfire.

In its report, the grand jury noted it is “vitally important” that police undergo training, especially in handling traffic stops which Fort Pierce police and sheriff’s deputies use in monitoring drug trafficking in Fort Pierce. Traffic stops “are among the most dangerous activities in which an officer engages,” the report states.

"Police need training in calming down situations that appear to be getting out of hand," the grand jury wrote.